<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The apple maggot, <italic>Rhagoletis pomonella</italic> (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is considered a key pest of apples and is native to the eastern United States. The virulence of seven different species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) was assessed against pupae of <italic>R. pomonella</italic> under laboratory conditions. Nematode species and strains included <italic>Steinernema carpocapsae</italic> (ALL strain), <italic>Steinernema feltiae</italic> (SN strain), <italic>Steinernema riobrave</italic> (355 strain), <italic>Steinernema glaseri</italic> (VS strain), <italic>Heterorhabditis bacteriophora</italic> (VS strain), <italic>Heterorhabditis indica</italic> (HOM1 strain), and <italic>Heterorhabditis megidis</italic> (UK211 strain). We conducted three bioassays: (i) short-term exposure cup bioassay (7 d), (ii) long-term cup bioassay (30 d), and (iii) pot bioassay (30 d). In the short-term exposure bioassay, all nematode strains (applied at 54 infective juvenile nematodes (IJs) cm−2) significantly reduced (range: 42.9-73.8%) insect survival relative to the control, but no differences were observed among the treatments. For the long-term exposure bioassay, using the same EPN application rate as the short exposure assay, all treatments reduced adult <italic>R. pomonella</italic> emergence compared with the control. <italic>Steinernema riobrave</italic> was the most virulent (28.3% survival), and <italic>S. glaseri</italic> and <italic>H. megidis</italic> were the least virulent (53.3% survival). In the pot experiment, <italic>S. riobrave</italic> and <italic>S. carpocapsae</italic> (applied at 27 IJs cm−2) had the highest virulence (23.3 and 31.7% survival of <italic>R. pomonella</italic>, respectively), while <italic>H. bacteriophora</italic> was the least effective (68.33% survival). Our results indicate that <italic>S. riobrave</italic>, <italic>S. carpocapsae</italic>, and <italic>S. feltiae</italic> have substantial potential to attack <italic>R. pomonella</italic> pupae, and their field application under the tree canopy (prior to adult emergence) in the spring when temperatures are conducive might be a good option for successful IPM of apple maggot fly.
</abstract>

The apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is considered a key pest of apples and is native to the eastern United States. The virulence of seven different species of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) was assessed against pupae of R. pomonella under laboratory conditions. Nematode species and strains included Steinernema carpocapsae (ALL strain), Steinernema feltiae (SN strain), Steinernema riobrave (355 strain), Steinernema glaseri (VS strain), Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (VS strain), Heterorhabditis indica (HOM1 strain), and Heterorhabditis megidis (UK211 strain). We conducted three bioassays: (i) short-term exposure cup bioassay (7 d), (ii) long-term cup bioassay (30 d), and (iii) pot bioassay (30 d). In the short-term exposure bioassay, all nematode strains (applied at 54 infective juvenile nematodes (IJs) cm−2) significantly reduced (range: 42.9-73.8%) insect survival relative to the control, but no differences were observed among the treatments. For the long-term exposure bioassay, using the same EPN application rate as the short exposure assay, all treatments reduced adult R. pomonella emergence compared with the control. Steinernema riobrave was the most virulent (28.3% survival), and S. glaseri and H. megidis were the least virulent (53.3% survival). In the pot experiment, S. riobrave and S. carpocapsae (applied at 27 IJs cm−2) had the highest virulence (23.3 and 31.7% survival of R. pomonella, respectively), while H. bacteriophora was the least effective (68.33% survival). Our results indicate that S. riobrave, S. carpocapsae, and S. feltiae have substantial potential to attack R. pomonella pupae, and their field application under the tree canopy (prior to adult emergence) in the spring when temperatures are conducive might be a good option for successful IPM of apple maggot fly.

Potential of entomopathogenic nematodes against the pupal stage of the apple maggot <italic>Rhagoletis pomonella</italic> (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Journal of Nematology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Potential of entomopathogenic nematodes against the pupal stage of the apple maggot  (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

running-head

The apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is considered a key pest of apples and is native to the eastern United States. The...

Potential of entomopathogenic nematodes against the pupal stage of the apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Publicado en línea: 28 jul 2020

Páginas: 1 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2020-079

Palabras clave
Entomopathogenic nematode, Pupae, Species, Virulence.

© 2020 Muhammad Usman et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Potential of entomopathogenic nematodes against the pupal stage of the apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Publicado en línea: 28 jul 2020

Páginas: 1 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/jofnem-2020-079

Palabras claveEntomopathogenic nematode, Pupae, Species, Virulence.

© 2020 Muhammad Usman et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
Entomopathogenic nematode, Pupae, Species, Virulence.